How To Participate in The 2025 Philadelphia Water Rate Case

*Highlights, Utilities

The four 2025 Philadelphia Water Rate Case Public Input Hearings will be held at the following times:   Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1pm. In-person hearing at the Philadelphia Gas Commission, 1515 Arch St, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 6pm. Virtual/Telephonic hearing. Information will be posted at https://www.phila.gov/departments/water-sewer-storm-water–rate-board/rate-proceedings/2025-general-proceeding/ Wednesday, April…

Navigating UC Appeals Delays

*Highlights, Employment, News

Currently, the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefit system is experiencing long delays in handling appeals from denials of UC benefits. People are waiting for their UC referee hearings and decisions for 2 to 6 months, depending on their location in the state. Most people who must wait that long suffer severe financial hardship. If you…

SNAP Fuels Pennsylvania

*Highlights, Public Benefits

SNAP helps more than 2 million Pennsylvanians keep food on the table. Pennsylvania is stronger when families facing food insecurity can access nutritious meals through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). But massive SNAP cuts threaten to undermine our most effective and important tool to fight hunger. Children who receive SNAP have better health and…

A doctor taking a patient's blood pressure

Medicaid Work Requirements Hurt Workers

*Highlights, Public Benefits

Medicaid keeps workers healthy and employed. Work requirements make entire families sicker when people lose coverage. Medicaid is an efficient, effective program for keeping 3 million Pennsylvanians healthy. Studies show that Medicaid provides access to comparable care at a significantly lower cost than private health insurance. The PA Department of Human Services found that Medicaid…

Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) welcome three new members to overlapping Boards of Directors

*Highlights, News

Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) are thrilled to welcome three new members to our overlapping Boards of Directors.   Diana Cortes, a partner at Morgan Lewis, is a longtime trial lawyer and former Philadelphia city solicitor/general counsel. Diana represents clients in crisis and complex litigation matters, including class actions and large group…

State Finalizes Regulations to Implement Occupational Licensing Reform

*Highlights, Employment

October 18, 2024 – Tomorrow, October 19, 2024, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) will publish the final regulations to implement Act 53 of 2020, commonly known as “the Occupational Licensing Reform Act.” The regulations will go into effect as of that date.  Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS) applauds these regulations,…